Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 3

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 3, once again we have the new normal deadline of 11:00 BST – half an hour earlier than last season.

It’s been a rollercoaster start for FPL managers with a record number of goals scored last Gameweek. In the Scoutcast‘s ‘rough with the smooth’ many surpassed the 100-point mark while one poor soul mustered just 16 points.

The contrasting fortunes prompted a flurry of Wildcards in the Community, leading Az to reflect in this latest Pro Pundit article:

It does feel like people’s strategies – along with all sense of order and meticulous pre-season planning – have been thrown out of the window somewhat after a truly crazy start to the season.

– Az

Citing the differing experiences for managers with Man United and Spurs assets, Az pointed out that what we want one week can dramatically change the next:

With so many players performing, you simply can’t keep chasing last week’s points. You need to build a core squad of players who you feel are likely to deliver over the coming period, give them a chance to repay your faith.

– Az

Az went on to raise questions about several of this week’s targets:

  • Will Son be productive against a Newcastle side that likes to defend deep? He was afforded plenty of space by Southampton’s high line;
  • Everton are set to come up against some resolute defences in their next three matches, are Calvert-Lewin and James Rodriguez essential?
  • And will the acquisition of Nélson Semedo impinge on the Fantasy credentials of Daniel Podence and his Wolves’ teammates? 

David tackled one of those questions when he examined how the new arrival at Molineux could fit in under Nuno Espirito Santo:

The addition of Semedo to the Wolves squad should relieve Traoré of his wing-back duties very soon and shift him back into competition with Podence, Neto and Vitinha further up the field.

– David

It looks likely that those four will be vying for two places in the Wolves’ attack, although David reasons that Podence has probably done enough to secure a starting spot for now.

Semedo’s new club tops the list for upcoming fixtures, as Neale revealed earlier in the week. It’s a very appealing run:

Clashes with newly promoted Fulham and Leeds United are sandwiched by matches against West Ham United, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, with three of those five games staged at Molineux.

– Neale

Encouragingly for owners and those considering their assets, recent comments from their Portuguese manager suggest we will see a more attacking version of Wolves this season: 

The idea is to give them freedom to put their talent onto the pitch… I would like to be more dominant, I would like to have more of the ball, I would like to improve our tally of goals scored and at the same time, decrease goals (at the other end).

– Nuno Espirito Santo

Continuing his frisk of the fixtures, Neale agreed with Az that Gameweek 6 might be a better time to invest in Everton, when their matches get really good.

And former FPL winner Simon March supported Az’s idea that now is not the time to panic and reach for the Wildcard.

A graduate in behavioural economics, Simon introduced the concept of “The House Money Effect”: 

The House Money Effect often occurs when we receive money in an atypical manner. For example; winning a bet, receiving a bonus or profiting from an investment. Behavioural psychologists have observed that people take far greater risks with such sums… [because] people don’t perceive these sums to really be their money.”

– Simon

Simon applied this idea to FPL noting that the top 10,000 managers in Gameweek 1 took on average more hits compared to the masses and, crucially – scored below average points in Gameweek 2.

For those of you reading this and perhaps regretting playing your Wildcard, there is hope in the shape of a three-time top 200 manager. 

Lateriser has made his name by starting slowly and finishing strongly. And the Pro Pundit wielded his Wildcard after an underwhelming couple of Gameweeks. The upside-chasing manager has seen enough to encourage him in the first two rounds of fixtures, in particular the emergence of a few ‘glue guys’:

Glue guys are the kind of picks in a particular ‘value’ price bracket that you just need to set in your team and forget about for a long time because they will continue to offer bang for buck for the mid-to-long term.

– Lateriser

The new attack-minded Wolves is good news for first-choice striker Raul Jimenez, argues the Pro Pundit. While Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey offers excellent value at £4.5m and can produce returns at both ends of the pitch. Last season the buccaneering defender had a better big chance creation rate than the two Liverpool full-backs. 

Finally he picked out Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who recently revealed the influence of manager Carlo Ancelotti:

Carlo Ancelotti is on me every day for first-touch finishes and to be in the box, in the right areas. It’s nice to know what I’m working on in training is coming off on the pitch.

– Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Good news for prospective buyers.

The Everton No 9 was also highlighted by Steven Reinaldo Rusli last week due to his impressive non-penalty xG stat. The Community Member looked at value (point per million) when making the case for a 3-4-3 formation to take advantage of the mid-priced forwards. 

While a value for money approach was echoed by TorpedoToien who looked back over recent seasons to reveal which players had provided the best bang for your buck. Will Jimenez and Calvert-Lewin be this season’s Mahrez and Vardy?

And the king of the puns Greyhead who finished in the top 100 overall just two seasons ago, examined the player ownership among his chosen managers in The Great and The Good. The Community scribe fancies Southampton players could be moved on after failing to live up to pre-season expectations. But with West Brom in Gameweek 4, is that a wise idea?

Captaincy and Manchester City

A major talking point this week has been Kevin De Bruyne’s performance for Manchester City as he lined up in an attacking midfield role. The question many have been asking is will Guardiola continue to use the Belgian as a No 10? 

David analysed his performance against Wolves and assessed the competition for places within the City squad.

And our new Captain Sensible writer Jan Sienkiewicz included the current PFA Player of the Year on his shortlist for the armband alongside Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mané. 

While City assets look particularly appealing, Neale and Andy reported a possible concussion for the De Bruyne sustained in Thursday evening’s EFL Cup tie.

And today, rumours of a possible injury to striker Gabriel Jesus were confirmed by the player himself:

Focusing on Chelsea, Jan described Werner and Havertz as the outstanding picks for Gameweek 3. The double-points maestro questioned whether the Baggies will have enough to stop the Blues from scoring.

While on FPL Black Box, Fantasy Football Scout founder Mark reaffirmed his strategy for selecting a captain this season – going with the player who has the best fixture – and following that rationale, he is handing Timo Werner the armband.

A look at the latest clean sheet odds provided by G-Whizz backs the decision to go with a Chelsea or Man City player. Their opponents West Brom and Leicester City have the worst odds of a shutout in Gameweek 3.

And BigManBakar revealed in his in-depth review of Gameweek 2 that he will be selecting De Bruyne for the captaincy: according to the bookies, Man City are the most likely team to score 2.5+ goals.

Community Round-up and The Scout Network

The spotlight in the Fantasy Football Scout Network this week fell on Mini-League Mate. If you want a stat-packed breakdown of how your mini-league rivals fare each Gameweek (complete with attractive charts and graphs) then this for you.

And it was also announced that Tor Mikkel Tokvamm, creator of the Transfer Algorithm, and FPL Poker Player will be joining the Scout Network

For an update on all FFScout Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions, please click here to read the latest round-up.

And for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 3 can be found below:

Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

May your arrows be green!

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

3,543 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Chances McCarthy looses his place to Forster?

    1. boombaba
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Slim

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Shady

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It’s a chance, worried as an owner but no point worrying until it actually happens

    3. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Fortunately forster is my bench!

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      One more dodgy performance and he's out

  2. boombaba
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Play Mitchell home vs Everton or Justin away vs City ?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mitchell

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      M

  3. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    People think Bavies will start with Reguilon there?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nope

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Long term no, this week yes

    2. boombaba
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think Reguilon will start

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Might get away with keeping Davies this week

    4. yousunkmybattleship
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bavies starts this week. Will lose place pretty quickly though. JM may play 3 at the back occasionally with Bavies LCB but his minutes will be cut dramatically.

    5. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      expecting him to start this week

  4. Patson Dabaka
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Rate my WC team out of 10 please

    Martinez Steer
    TAA Saiss James Lamptey Mitchell
    Salah KDB Son Foden Anguissa
    Jimenez DCL Mitrovic

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      9

  5. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Final decisions on a WC

    1) Mitchell/TAA or 4.5m/Robbo? Prefer the latter as mitchell will eventually get dropped and better to have a 4.5m bench defender

    A) Salah + Podence + 2 city mids (KDB/Foden)
    B) Son + Havertz + 2 city mids (KDB/Foden)
    C) Son + Mahrez + 2 city mids (KDB/Foden)

    1. hogree
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      1B

  6. wildnothing
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Wc gtg?

    Martinez Steer
    VVD Digne Saiss Lamptey Dunne
    KDB Sterling Zaha Barnes Foden
    Jimenez DCL Mitrovic

  7. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What do we think chaps:

    A. Son & TAA
    B. Salah & Lamptey

    1. FeverPitch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      That’s really tough. B for now

    2. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  8. Merlinho
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any breakfast club this morning?

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      we can have one if you're out and about

  9. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Take a look at this stat

    61% of matches this season in the Premier League have been won by the away team

    The highest figure for a full season is 33.7%...

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It’s almost like drawing conclusions from 1/19th of a season is meaningless

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Not drawing anything, though there’s plenty of evidence that no crowd has an impact on games

        1. Forza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          The percentage of away wins stayed the same post-restart last season. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53553300

          1. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Cheers

        2. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Any idea of the stats since Project Restart? I'm curious.

      2. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        isn't it at least worth considering that home advantage may have become less of a thing given there are no crowds in stadiums

  10. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Do people think for them selfes when picking wildcard team or just copying what everyone else is doing ? every team on here thats a wildcard team looks the same

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Copy and paste...

    2. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mine (post below) doesn't have any Everton or Spurs, so atleast a bit different!

    3. Gr3g
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Same thoughts and what I mentioned earlier. I expected WCers to hit good 40-50 points this weeks!

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Check out my team mate

      Guaita - Forster
      Virgil - Saiss - Lamptey - Kean - Mitchell
      KDB - Salah - Zaha - Barnes - Grealish
      Jimmy - Ings - Brewster

      There are so maverick trend setters on here still

      1. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        where did all the money go?

  11. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    No Everton, no Spurs, no Utd wildcard.

    Everton and Spurs troll too much. Can't find space for Utd.

    Martinez (4)
    VVD - James - Saiss (Lamptey, Mitchell)
    KdB - Salah - Podence - Foden - Havertz
    Werner - Jiminez (Brewster)

    0.1itb

    1. Harry the Hack
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      10/10. You will probably top the round this week.

    2. Strchld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Very similar than mine, so beatiful.

  12. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who would you captain?

    A. KDB
    B. Salah

    1. The Fantastic Mr Fox
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  13. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Not a fan of the new captain poll on smartphone at least, harder to read the results now and god help you if you are colour blind...

    I think KDB is leading, then second is either Neto, Richarlison, Bale or Werner...

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Also could be Greenwood...

    2. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It's horrible.

      1. Malkmus
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I second that emotion

  14. Fantasizer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    captain sterling or werner?
    play taylor or coady?

    1. The Fantastic Mr Fox
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling.

      2nd ques is tricky. Coady has next to no attacking potential, so I'd say Taylor

    2. focaccia
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Having the same dilemma. Now Jesus is out Sterling at false 9 v tempting!

  15. The Fantastic Mr Fox
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Alzate as 5th mid and bench fodder seems a good option?

    Also, with Jesus out, is it BAD for sterling? Noone to make runs and drag defenders away

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Can’t see it being bad for Sterling, City will be turning to him for goals and will be dangerous if he plays CF

    2. Pavsboot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If he's still playing striker/false 9 next week I reckon he'll thrive against Leed's 'defence'. This week maybe a bit less so but I still think City put 3+ goals past Leicester and someone has to score em so he'll probably be alright.

  16. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Podence or Foden?

    Have Jim, KDB and Raz.

    1. The Fantastic Mr Fox
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Foden. like my team

  17. Jimjam
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Werner or KDB (c)?

    Have been on Werner all week but am getting an itchy trigger finger now.

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      captain the guy with the highest probability of starting.

      1. Jimjam
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Pretty sure they're both nailed?

    2. Liberate HK - antichinazi
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Fixture over form vs form over fixture dichotomoy

      1. Jimjam
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        It really is!

    3. Zrinkec
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Whatever anybody says to you its roullete man, 50-50 pure gamble GL i am gambling with Timo.

  18. focaccia
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who to play?
    A) Mitchell
    B) Saka

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saka

    2. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  19. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Triple Wolves...

    A. Podence, Jimi, Saiss
    B. Patrício, Jimi, Saiss

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A.

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C. Coady, Jimi, Saiss

      without a doubt

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        That's what I'm on

    3. Glad He Ate Her
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Why not just ask Podence or Patricio?..

      1. Baron Penguin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Context

    4. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Jimi and Saiss is plenty

  20. BusbySwede
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Please help me decide the final touch on wc with kdb in team right now.

    JRod or Foden?
    Salah or Sterling?

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      JRod (the Everton one)

      Salah

      1. BusbySwede
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Even if i have DCL also?

  21. Steirish
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Captain sterling or werner?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No KDB?

  22. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Werner,4.5 mid,Podence ( rlly not
    convinced)

    4.5 striker,Foden,Mahrez (too risky?).

    1. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I have Werner, Podence and Mahrez if that helps!

  23. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Fail

  24. Glad He Ate Her
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Werner + Podence

    OR

    Mitro + Son

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      W & P

  25. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Last decision... captain...

    A - KDB
    B - Salah
    C - Son
    D - Werner

  26. The Finnisher
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Good to go? Have considered no Salah but a bit scared

    Martinez
    TAA Digne Saiss
    KDB Salah Son Foden Podence
    DCL Jimenez

    Cheap af bench

    1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Similar team. But I’m going with Semedo/Havertz over Saiss/So.

      Still deciding between DCL/Digne and Rich/James..

  27. We ain't got no histor…
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Help a brother here:

    Play one:
    A. Vinagre
    B. Justin
    C. Mitchell

    Captain:
    1. Salah
    2. Son
    3. Auba
    4. Werner

    Thanks

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A followed by C
      4 followed by 2

  28. Jonesfromthere
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any other Werner cappers who also own KDB?

    1. Pavsboot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Atm I'm capping Werner and own KDB and Sterling. Hopefully they all just do well and it doesn't end up mattering.

    2. Liberate HK - antichinazi
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Here.

    3. Jimjam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes, but feeling less than certain about it

    4. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      o/

  29. OBAMA
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone else going Sterling over KDB now Jesus is out?

    On a wildcard and had KDB but I'd imagine Sterling is going to be starting up front now? Seems like the way forward no?

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think it actually hinders Sterling that Jesus is out

      1. OBAMA
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Why? He starts up front now

    2. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I've got both but honestly, it's as a differential. I am equally as prepared for a blank as a hatrick

      He is more nailed than previously. That's the only thing you can say with any degree of confidence

  30. Hairy Potter
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hmm, which way to go?

    A) Mahrez & 4.5 mid

    B) Greenwood & 5.5 mid

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks